Information Signatures in Children’s Language Environment

Steven L. Elmlinger, Cornell University

Drew H. Abney, Indiana University

David W. Vinson, University of California, Merced

Linda B. Smith, Indiana University

Chen Yu, Indiana University

Abstract

In auditory statistical learning, children are sensitive to the
transitional structure of their language environment. Variability and stability
of utterances in the language environment are important properties of statistical
learning but are currently understudied across laboratory and naturalistic
research contexts. In this study, we quantify variability and stability in the
language environment of children as measured by amount of information within the
temporal structure of caregivers’ utterances. In this work we present a new
method for understanding information signatures in the temporal structure of
parent-child free play contexts and document information signatures of caregiver
utterances at multiple timescales. Our results suggest information signatures of
parental utterances increase across development (9-24 months), but decrease
within individual play sessions (5-6 minutes). We speculate that the dynamics of
information signatures varies across multiple timescales. Possible implications
of the observed information signatures inherent in caregivers’ naming of
objects to their young children are explored.